Pakistan Chemists and Druggist Association (PCDA) has requested to the Prime Minister not to discontinue the imports of finished products from India as millions of local patients heavily rely on them.

In a letter to the PM, the PCDA stated that Pakistan is going through an extremely tough and unprecedented medical emergency.

"[Hence] Our reliance on Indian finished products is now even more critical than it was before, as sourcing such products from developed markets is not an option. Not only are those products going to be far more expensive, but in all probability, we won't have any products at all."

The association stated that the SROs 977 & 978 of 2019 are crystal clear, and if imports outside the ambit of these SROs have been made, it should be determined and investigated by the concerned authorities.

It may be added that the government of Pakistan, in principle, decided to suspend all bilateral trade with India in August 2019.

Soon after that PCDA, which represents importers of finished pharmaceutical products, along with the Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association, had a joint meeting with the Health Minister and Abdul Razzak Dawood (Chairperson). In this meeting the associations were heard at length, and it was unanimously decided to allow imports of Therapeutic Drugs of Indian origin, regulated by DRAP.

Pursuant to this meeting, SRO 977(I)/2019 and & SRO 978(I)/2019, both dated 2nd September 2019, were issued by the Ministry of Commerce. As a result, finished products in the segments of Oncology, Inhalation anesthesia, Thalassemia, Immunology/ Vaccines (Anti-Rabies, Typhoid, DPTHibHep-B, Hepatitis-B, Measles, Tetanus, BCG, etc.), specialized hormones, Cardiology, Equine serum Igs (Anti Snake venom serum, Anti Rabies serum, Anti Tetanus Serum, Anti-Thymocyteglobulin, etc.), solid organ transplants, all biological products, plasma expanders, etc., could be sourced from India.

"This timely realization and action of the Ministry of Commerce ensured that a whole array of therapeutic drugs could be made available to the ailing patient population. We earnestly request you, in the better interest of the ailing patient population who rely heavily on such products to keep these imports unaffected," stated the association.